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cut off from the lusts that are in the world; because every such lust warreth against the Spirit ; and neither fornicators, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, shall inherit the kingdom of God; [1 Pet. ii. 11-1 Cor. vi. 9, 10.] nor they who do such things as are foolish and unreasonable. Wherefore ye must needs abstain from all these things; being subject to the priests and deacons, as unto God and Christ. The virgins admonish to walk in a spotless and pure conscience.

6. And let the elders be compassionate and merciful towards all : (y) turning them from their errors; seeking out those that are weak; not forgetting the widows, the fatherless, and the poor; but always providing what is good both in the sight of God and man, [Rom. xii. 17.) Abstaining from all wrath, respect of persons, and unrighteous judgment: and especially being free from all covetousness. Not easy to believe any thing against any; not severe in judgment, knowing that we are all debtors in point of sin. If therefore we pray to the Lord that he would forgive us, we ought also to forgive others; for we are all in the sight of our Lord and God, and "must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ," [Rom. xiv. 10-2 Cor. v. 10.] and shall every one give an account of himself. Let us therefore serve him in. fear, and with all reverence as both himself hath commanded; and as the Apostles who have preached the Gospel unto us, and the prophets who have foretold the coming of our Lord, have taught us: being zealous of what is good; abstaining from all offence, and from false brethren; and from those who bear the name of Christ in hypocrisy; who deceive vain men.

7. For whosoever does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, he is antichrist; [1 John iv. 1.] and whoever does not confess his suffering upon the is from the devil. And whosoever perverts

ek. xxxiv. 4.

(6) The martyrdom of the cross.

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oracles of the Lord to his own lusts, and says that re shall neither be any resurrection, nor judgment, is the first born of Satan. Wherefore leaving the nity of many, and their false doctrines, let us ren to the word that was delivered to us from the beaning; watching unto prayer, [1 Pet. iv. 7.1 and severing in fasting: with supplication beseeching all seeing God not to lead us into temptation; att. vi. 13.] as the Lord hath said, "the spirit truly willing, but the flesh is weak," [Matt. xxvi. 41.] 3. Let us therefore without ceasing hold stedfastly him who is our hope, and the earnest of our righusness, even Jesus Christ; who his own self bare sins in his own body on the tree; who did no sin, ther was guile found in his mouth, [1 Pet. ii. 22, ] But suffered all for us that we might live through n. Let us therefore imitate his patience; and if - suffer for his name let us glorify him; for this exple he has given us by himself, and so have we be

ved.

9. Wherefore I exhort all of you that ye obey the rd of righteousness, and exercise all patience; nich ye have seen set forth before your eyes, not ly in the blessed Ignatius, and Zozimus, and Ru5, but in others among yourselves; and in Paul mself, and the rest of the Apostles: being confint of this, that all these have not run in vain, but faith and righteousness, and are gone to the place at was due to them from the Lord; with whom also ey suffered. For they loved not this present world, t him who died and was raised again by God for us. 10. Stand therefore in these things, and follow the ample of the Lord; being firm and immutable in e faith, lovers of the brotherhood, lovers of one other: companions together in the truth, being nd and gentle towards each other, despising none.(f) Then it is in your power to do good defer it not, for

f) Yielding to each other the mildness of the Lord.

charity delivereth from death. Be all of you subject one to another, having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; ['Tobit. xii. 9.-1 Pet. ii. 12.] that by your good works, both ye yourselves may receive praise, and the Lord may not be blasphemed through you, [Rom. ii. 24. Titus ii. 5.] But wo be to him by whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed. Therefore teach all men sobriety; in which do ye also exercise yourselves.

11. I am greatly afflicted for Valens, who was once a presbyter among you; that he should so little understand the place that was given to him in the Church. Wherefore I admonish you that ye abstain from covetousness; (h) and that ye be chaste and true of speech. Keep yourselves from all evil.* For he that in these things cannot govern himself, how shall he be able to prescribe them to another? if a man does not keep himself from covetousness, (i) he shall be polluted with idolatry, and be judged as if he were a Gentile. But who of you are ignorant of the judgment of God? do we not know that the Saints shall judge the world, as Paul teaches, [1 Cor. vi. 2.] But I have neither perceived nor heard any thing of this kind in you, among whom the blessed Paul laboured; [Phil. i.] and who are named in the beginning of this Epistle. For he glories of you in all the Churches who then only knew God; for we did not then know him. Wherefore, my brethren, I am exceedingly sorry both for him, and for his wife; to whom God grant a true repentance. And be ye also moderate upon this occasion; and look not upon such as enemies, but call them back as suffering and erring members, that ye may save your whole body : for by so doing, ye shall edify your own selves.

12. For I trust that ye are well exercised in the Scriptures, and that nothing is hid from you: at present it is not granted unto me to practice which is written, " be angry and sin not;", and Lin, " let not the sun go down upon your wrath," al. iv. 4-Eph. iv. 26.] Blessed is he that rememeth these things; which also I trust you do. Now God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and he self who is our everlasting High Priest, the Son of d, even Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and in th, and in all meekness and lenity; in patience d long suffering, in forbearance and chastity: 1 grant unto you a lot and portion among his nts; and us with you, and to all that are under Heavens, who shall believe in our Lord Jesus rist, and in his Father "who raised him from the ad," [Gal. i. 1.] Pray for all the saints; pray also "kings, and all that are in authority," [1 Tim. 1, 2.] and for those who persecute you and hate 1, and for the enemies of the cross: that your it may be manifest in all; and that ye may be perEt in Christ.

(h) Concupiscence, or immoderate and filthy lusts. So Dr. Hammond on Rom. i. 29, 1.

* Thess. v. 22. Eph. v. 5. Coloss. ii. 5.

(i) As before Dr. Hammond on 1 Cor. v. 10, i.

13. Ye wrote to me, both ye and also Ignatius,* at if any one went from hence into Syria, he should ng your letters with him; which also I will take re of, as soon as I shall have a convenient opportuy; either by myself, or him whom I shall send upyour account. The Epistles of Ignatius which he -ote unto us, (n) together with what others of his ve come to our hands, we have sent to you accorng to your order; which are subjoined to this Epis; by which you may be greatly profited; for they eat of faith and patience, and of all things that perin to edification in the Lord Jesus.

14. What you know certainly of Ignatius, and ose that are with him, signify unto us.

These things have I written unto you by Crescens,

* See Annot. Usser in loc.

(n) i. e. To himself, and to the Church of Smyrna.

whom by this present Epistle I have recommended to you, and do now again commend. For he has had his conversation without blame among us; and I suppose also with you. Ye will also have regard unto his sister when she shall come unto you. Be ye safe in the Lord Jesus Christ; and in favour with all yours.(p)-Amen.

(p) His grace be with you all.-Amen.

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